Caregiver support & resources

Am I a caregiver?

Do you help another person with one or more tasks such as shopping, home chores, finances, transportation, medication management, bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, or more? Caregivers can be family members, friends, neighbors, or have any other type of relationship.

If you answered yes, we appreciate you and there are resources and support to help you. Caregivers are the backbone of our long-term services and supports system. Because of you, countless people are able to live and thrive in their homes and communities. In addition, you supplement the care that is provided in residential care settings such as assisted living communities or nursing homes. We simply cannot replace the invaluable work you do.

As a caregiver, you balance a lot. Research shows using services such as the ones listed below can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression for caregivers. These services can also enable you to provide care longer, delaying the need to place a loved one into long-term care residential options such as assisted living communities or nursing homes.

If you are unable to find what you are looking for or would like to ask for something to be added, please fill out this form.

Adult day services: Adult day services are services in which older adults, adults living with dementia, or adults living with disabilities receive individualized therapeutic, social, and/or health services for some part of the day. In Utah, most adult day services occur at adult day centers, which are freestanding buildings operated strictly for this purpose. Additionally, some assisted living communities or nursing homes offer adult day services at their community where people will visit for all or part of the day and are integrated into the day’s activities and routine along with the people who live there.
For people living with dementia, using adult day services can include benefits such as socialization, physical activity, cognitive stimulation, creative expression, building new friendships, and more – all in a safe environment. These benefits have shown to reduce falls, improve quality of sleep, and bolster self-esteem. For caregivers, adult day services can help lower stress, offer you a break, avoid burnout, allow you to continue working, provide peace of mind, and more. There is a fee to use these services. Benefits such as long-term care insurance or Aid and Attendance through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) may help with the cost.
Care consultations: A care consultation is a meeting with a trained professional who will help navigate caregiving decisions and family issues, assess current needs and anticipate future care challenges. They can help you develop an effective care plan, assist with problem solving; and offer supportive listening in a confidential, nonjudgmental environment.
Care consultations can be provided without a fee by any of the national dementia organizations through their helplines (see national dementia helplines and websites list). In addition, your local Area Agency on Aging (see local caregiver resources list) can either provide a care consultation or help to direct you to a nearby organization for one. Finally, the Division of Aging & Adult Services provides in-person, virtual, or telephone care consultations through our partnership with the Cognitive Disorders Clinic at the University of Utah (see local caregiver resources list).
Education programs: As dementia progresses, additional knowledge and skills are needed in order to best support the person living with dementia. Dementia caregiving is not an intuitive process, so getting help to navigate the changes and challenges will help you and the adult living with dementia. Education programs are available to help you understand dementia, manage challenges as they arise, plan for the future, and understand the resources available to you. (See caregiver education options for a list of in-person and virtual options.)
Respite: Respite is short-term relief for caregivers. This can be provided either in or out of the home. For example, a friend/family member visiting can allow you the opportunity to step away and take some time for yourself. Also, organizations such as personal care agencies can be hired to provide social visits, help with everyday jobs such as light housekeeping and meal prep, or help with care tasks such as bathing. These organizations can provide you with a few hours of support or up to 24/7 support.
Respite can also be used outside of the home such as a few hours to a few days a week at an adult day center (see description above) or overnight to multiple day/night stays at an assisted living community or nursing home. There is a fee to use these services, and sometimes benefits such as long-term care insurance or Aid and Attendance through the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) may help with the cost. The National Family Caregiver Support Program (implemented by Utah’s Area Agencies on Aging) and the VA’s Caregiver Support Program also offer respite care to eligible caregivers (see local caregiver resources for both programs).
Support group meetings: Support groups are meetings with people who share common experiences or concerns and provide each other with encouragement, comfort, and advice. Being a caregiver can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a challenge. It can help to have a group of people who understand what you are going through, people who also have experience caring for someone with dementia. Support groups provide opportunities to receive validation, support, and empathy, as well as learn tips from the experiences of others.

Alzheimer’s Association
- alz.org
- Helpline: 800-272-3900
Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
- theaftd.org
- Helpline: 866-507-7222
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation
- cjdfoundation.org
- Helpline: 800-659-1991
Huntington’s Disease Society of America
- hdsa.org
- Helpline: 800-345-4372
Lewy Body Dementia Association
- lbda.org
- Lewy Line: 800-539-9767
Parkinson’s Foundation
- parkinson.org
- Helpline: 800-473-4636

AARP
- aarp.org/caregiving
- Resource line: 877-333-5885
Caregiver Action Network
- caregiveraction.org
- Caregiver help desk: 855-227-3640
Eldercare Locator
- eldercare.acl.gov
- Phone: 800-677-1116
Family Caregiver Alliance
- caregiver.org
- Phone: 800-445-8106
National Respite Network
- archrespite.org
- Phone: 706-256-2084
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers
- rosalynncarter.org
- Phone: 229-928-1234
VA Caregiver Support Program
- caregiver.va.gov
- Support line: 855-260-3274

Below is a list of education options offered in Utah. This list is not exhaustive, but provides ideas that may interest you. For more information about offerings in your area, you can visit the statewide calendar or contact your local Area Agency on Aging. The programs listed are offered for free as a partnership between Area Agencies on Aging, Older Americans Act and the state Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Program.

Aging mastery program
Caregiver Academy
Caregiver Talking Points
Dealing with Dementia
Dementia Dialogues
Dementia Friendly Utah
Dementia Live
Now I’m a Caregiver
Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers

National online education options:

AARP Financial Workbook for Family Caregivers
AARP Prepare to Care (available in multiple languages)
A Guide on Advanced Care Planning Resources
The Caregiver's Handbook (National Institute on Aging)
Caregiver Planning Guide
National Institute on Aging worksheets
- Coordinating caregiving responsibilities
- Home safety checklist
- Questions to ask before hiring a care provider
- Questions to consider before moving an older adult into your home
- Managing medications and supplements
- Important documents and paperwork
Salt Lake County guides (available in multiple languages)
- Creating Joy
- Managing Care
University of Utah LEAD Guide

There are only four kinds of
people in the world — those who have been
caregivers, those who are currently caregivers,
those who will be caregivers and those who
will need caregivers.
Rosalynn Carter